Slitting-machine.



N. E. CLARK.

SLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 28, 1901.

" Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

e sums-45mm 1.

Figi- Y 13' v 41 I 48 50 \\G 5 34 B -x :3: I 33 1 WITNESSES /NVENTOH N.E. CLARK.

SLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 28, 1907.

1,037,204, Patented Sept. 3,1912.

BSHEETSSHEET 2.

39 \I/ Fig; 2.; 50' 3B 39 4 fi T 1 1 13 I 40 ii' 37 15 irlllmllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll WITNESSESINVENTOH Norr's Elnyor Clark. 5 ZTOHNE;

N.E.GLARK. SLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1150.28, 19b7.

1,037,204, Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

6 SHEETSSHEET 8.

I?i 4b JapUs 0U 32 N.E.GLARK.

SLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILEDDEQ. 28, 1907.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

II III I II III II III III I II I II III II II III I I III I Norris E1ore Clark.

INVENTOI? WITNESSES N. E. CLARK.

I SLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.28,1907.

1,037,204; Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

6 SHEBTS SHEET 5.

8 E 6 INVENTOR W/ TNE SSE S Norris E1 0 e Clark.

-25 4244, a A TTOHN'E Y N. E. CLARK.

SLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED n10.2a, 1907.

1,037,204, v Patented Sept 3, 912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET B.

Fig 13- 44 WITNESSES INYENTOI'? ATTORNEY NORRIS ELMORE CLARK, FPLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

SLI'VBTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Application filed December 28, 1907. Serial No. 408,397.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORRIS ELMORE' CLARK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of P-lainville, in the county of Hartford and Stateof Connecticut, have Invented certain new and useful Imp-rovements inslitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to metal working machines and particularly for-slitting or lancing sheets or strips so as to render them susceptibleto stretching, for instance, for the production of expanded metal. Thecutters and the feed of the sheet are arranged so that staggered rows ofsllts are formed.

One object of this invention is to provide strong and durable cutterseasily made and kept up.

Another. object is to hold the cutters rigidly, but permit them to bereadily removed and re )laced.

Another ob ectis to hold the stock securely during the cutting stroke soas to prevent slip and consequent irregularlty of action.

Another object is to feed the stock regularly and straight beyond theordinary feed rolls andhold 1t securely up to the cutters.

Another object is to quickly clear the stock away from the cutters.

The accompanying six sheets of drawings illustrate one embodiment of theinvention as applied to-acommercial type of press.

The details for accomplishing the above mentioned objects will appearmore fully hereinafter.

Figure 1. is a side view of a machine embodying my invention, part ofthe frame and fly wheel being broken away. Fig. 2. is a rear view of thefeed rolls, table and gages. Fig. 3. is a front view of the cutters withthe gripping bar mechanism and stripper. Fig. 4:.is a plan view of theupper feed roll, table, gages and die cutters and the gripping bar insection. Fig. 5. is a sideview, on a larger scale, of the cutters,table, gages and gripping bar mechanism. Fig. 6. is a bottom view ofpart of the punch cutters and holders. Fig. 7. is a plan view of partofthe die cutters and strippers. Fig. 8. is a sectional view of the partsshown in side elevation in Fig. 5. Fig. 9. is a front view of one of thepunch of the spring pressed gages.

cutters. Fig. 10. is a front view of one of the die cutters. Fig. 11. isan end view of a punch cutter. Fig.12. is an end view of a die cutter.Fig. 13. is a plan view of one Fig. 14. is a section and side view ofthe feed rolls and follower. Fig. 15. is a fragmentary rear view of thesame. Fig. 16. is a plan view of a fragment of the product of themachine shown.

. I have used the terms unch and die simply to more readily distinguishbetween the two sets of cutters. It will be understood that none of thestock is removed by the cutters. They simply-cooperate to slit or lancethe stock. Inasmuch as practically all the parts, such as the cutters,the strippers and the gripping bar, are mechanically and positivelyoperated they might be inverted if desired in some cases as will behereinafter understood.

The frame, 1, supports the different parts of themechanism. The table,2, receives the strips or sheets of material such as steel 3, and thecutters produce staggered rowsof relatively short slits, such as 4 and5, as the strip is fed step by step; The spacing, length and relativestaggered arrangement of cutters may be varied so as .to produce theresults deslred. I have selected for illustration a regular. arrangementas simple and easy to comprehend.

Gutters-The lower or 'die set consists of two rows of cutters, 6 and 7,all like the cutters shown in Figs. 10 and 12. These cut-- ters abutagainst each other at the ends and have their corners beveled as at 8,so that the cut produced is the length of the cutting edge between thebeveled corners. These rows of cutters are. supported in staggeredrelation in the holder, 9, being clamped in groove, 10, with packing,11, by bolts or screws 12, 12- The rear edge of the back row 7, and thefront edge of the front row 6, constitute the cutting edges. Eachcutter, however, has four cutting edges, so that it may be turned oversidewise and also upside down. The gate or head 13, carries two separateupper holders, 14 and 15, to which are secured two rows of punchcuttors, 16 and 17. Each punch cutter thrusts against an abutment, 18,in its holder and is drawn against a vertical wall, 19, by a screw orbolt, 20, "which screws into a tapered hole, 21. Each upper cutter has aflat central portion, 22, crowned or sloped down at 23, 23, to thebeveled corners 24 24. The up er and lower faces are the 5 same so thatour cutting ed es are provided and although each cutter as a shear onits lower face for causing a more gradual cut, the central fiat portionon the upper face affords a secure thrust in cutting. The cutters in thetwo upper rows are staggered relative to each other like the lowercutters, but the two rows are spaced apart so that the front edges ofthe back upper row coact with the rear edges of the back row of lowercutters, while the rear edges of the front upper row coact with thefront edges of the lower front row. This tends to uniformly distributethe shearing stresses and prevents the metal from creeping during thecutting stroke.

Feed.Power is applied in the usual manner, for instance, to the main orfl wheel, 25, for reciprocating the gate or hea 13, in a suitablemanner. The stock is fed by rolls, 26 and 27, act-ing intermittently.The adjustable eccentric, 28, drives the rod, 29, and pawl disk, 30. Onthe axis with the latter but free to move is a ratchet wheel, 31, movedstep by step by one or more pawls, 30 such as 32, carried by plate 3.0and under the tension of a spring, 33. Gear, 34, is keyed to ratchet 31,and meshes with gear 35, on the end of the lower feed roll, 26. Thelower roll is thus driven and transmits motion to the up r feed rollthrough pinions 36 and 37. Both ends of the upper roll may be raised or-lowered simultaneously by rotation of shaft 38, which has bevel plmions39, 39, meshing with gears 40, 40. 403 ach of the latter has a screwshaft, 41, for raising and lowering the upper roll when adjusting thestock.

Gages.In back of the feed rolls is a pair of gages. One gage, 42, isadapted to be moved and secured at any one of a series of holes such as43, depending on the width of stock. For any given width of stock andoperation, the gage, 42, may be considered as fixed or statlonary. Theother gage, 44, is pressed toward the first by a pair of springs such as45,45, on the rods 46, 46, which pass through the stationary base, 47and are secured together by bar 48. This gage may be retracted byturning the cam, 49, by the handle 50. (See Fig. 13, in which positionthe gage is inoperative.) Between the feed rolls and the cutters isanother pair of somewhat similar gages, 51 and 52, one adjustable whennecessary and the other spring pressed like gage 44, and retractable byhandle 50'. These front gages are, however, undercut as shown dotted inFig. 4 and in Fig. 8, so as to hold down the edge of the stock up nearthe cutter and prevent. the edges from flying up when the steel passesutilize practically all the stock.

out from the feed rolls. These two sets of gages enable the operator tostart the sheet straight when the upper feed rolls are raised.

Supplemental fecal-While it is impossible to arrange the feed rolls upclose to the cutters, I accomplish a very complete and accurate feed bymeans of a follower after the sheet leaves the feed rolls. The body, 53,has two loosely hinged or pivoted side flanges, 54, 54,- ofsubstantially the thickness of the stock and adapted to be fed by therolls. The front end of the body is longer than the flanges and has anarrow slot, 55, to receive the rear edge of the stock. The projection,56, serves to prevent the fol lower from passing through the rolls. Bothrolls are centrally grooved about their peripheries as at 57, 57, toaccommodate the body of the follower. The table, 2, is also grooved orprovided with a guide passage, 58, for the follower body. This enablesthe operator to quickly center the follower when applying it just beforethe end of the strip passes between the rolls.

H 0Zding.To hold or gri the stock during the cutting, I provide a ar,60, which'is normally held up between the rows of upper cutters bysprings such as 61. Just before the descent of the punch cutters thisgripping bar, 60, is forced down by rockers, 62,

62, moved by cams 63, 63, on shaft 64. This shaft is worked by crank 65and link 66, from the gate or head 13. This bar, 60, in conjunction withthe peculiar arrangement of cutters, serves to eliminate slip and pro- 1duce uniform results.

Stripping.VVhen the gripping bar is released and just before the feedoccurs, a pair of stri per plates, and 71, are pressed upwar the stockfrom t e die cutters and lift the stock above the level of the cutterfaces so as to afford support for the stock during the feeding step.Bolts, such as 73, act as guides and stops for the stripper plates tolimit f their upward movement.

With this machine accurate results may be had without the expense oflateral feed. The supplemental feed makes it possible to While in somework it may be possible to use a pair of feeding away rolls in front ofthe cutters, I do not consider it practical for accurate work and shortfeeds, largely because of the great elasticity of the slitted product.

What I claim is:

1. In a slitting mechanism two rows of lower cutters, two separate upperholders, a row of 11 per cutters mounted in one holder in rear of theback row of lower cutters, and another row of upper cutters mounted inthe other holder in front of the front row of lower cutters, the backand front rows being in staggered relation.

2. In a slitting mechanism, two indey sprin s such as 72, so, as toclear 1 it. positively during a gripping bar,

and a rocker operated by each cam to force' I said bar on to thecutters.

pendently mounted upper holders and a row of cutters carried by eachholder independentlyof the other holder, the cutters of one holder beingstaggered relative to the others. v j 3. In a-slitting mechanism, rowsof cutters held therein, two separate opposite holders and a row.ofcutters heldby each separate holder, one row being in rear and theother row in front of the first set of cutters and means for feeding asheet transversely to said cutters. 4. In a slitting mechanism, two setsof cutters one set being divided into two rows to receive the other setbetween the two rows, a stripper between said rows and a stripper oneach side thereof and means for feeding a sheet transversely of saidrows.

5. In a slitting machine, two lower rows of relatively staggeredcutters, a row of upper cutters in .back of the back row'of lowercutters, and a row of upper cutters inv front of- "the front row oflower cutters.

6. In a slitting machine,-two lower rows of relatively staggeredcutters, upper cutters in back of the back row lower cutters, and -'arow of upper cutters in front of the front row of lower cutters, and agripping bar for holding the stock down on the lower cutters.

7. In a slitting machine,

a set of staggered cutters, two rows of opposite cutters, a grip--ping-bar movable between the latter rows of cutters,

the cutting stroke. 8. In a slitting machine, gered cutters, two :rowsof opposite cutters one set being movable, a spring pressed trans-versebar between two rows of the cutters; and-means for positively moving thebar in "advance of the cutting movement of the movable cutters andholding it. 9. In a slitting machine, two rows of staggered cutters, tworows, of opposite cutters one set being movable, a spring pressedtransverse bar between two rows of the cutters, and. means forpositivebar in advance of the cutting movement of the movable cuttersand holding it, and reretraction. of the movable cutters; 10. In aslitting mach-'ne, a set a shaft, two cams thereon,

cutters, a reciprocating gate carrying the rockers operated th'ereby toforce down said bar, and means'or' connection, between said gate and camshaft to move the bar down in advance of the gate and to release the barf after thebeginning of the ascent of the gatev 12. In a slittingmachine, two rows of the lower front cutters. a grooved holder,

a row of and means independent of the cutters for operating said barand'holding two "rows of stag-I staggered cutters,

moving the pressed gage, leasing the bar after the beginning of the ofcutters,

punch cutters, a gripping bar, a cam shaft,-

lower cutters, spring pressedstrip-per plates inback andin-frontthereof, two rows of upper cutters, one row in back of the lowerback cutters and the other row infront of 131111 a slitting machine, tworows of lower cuters, spring pressed stripper plates pressed stripperplate between the table and cutters and normally held on a level' abovethe top of the cutters, and a row of upper cutters in back and one rowin front of the lower cutters.

14.In a slitting machine, two rows of lower cutters, spring pressedstripper plates in 'back and in front-thereof, two rows of upper cuttersone row in back of the lower back cutters and the other row in front ofthe lower front cutters, and a-gripp-ing barbetween the upper cuttersfor holding the stock down on the lower cutters.

15. In a slitting machine, two rows of lower cutters, a guide table anda spring pressed stripper. plate between the table and cutters andnormally held on a level above ,the top of the cutters, and a row of u'perv cutters in back and one row in front 0. the lower cutters, and agripping bar for holding the-stock down on the lower cutters.

16. Ina slitting machine, a pair offeed rolls, upper and'lower sets ofstaggered cutters, a relatively stationary gage, a spring pressed gage,and a cam for retracting and "holding thetlatter. 17 a slitt ng machine,upper and lower staggered cutters,

feed rolls, a guide table, a spring pressed of the table, and arelatively stationary but adjustable gage at the opposite'side.

18. In a slitting machine, upper and lower a pair of feed rolls, aspringpressed lateral gages in front of said rolls, and'a relguide table, rearand in atively stationary gage oppos te each spring pressed gage.

19,. In a slitting m: 1chine,upper and lower staggered cutters, a pairof feed rolls, a guidetable, spring pressed lateral gages in rearand infront of said rolls, and a' relatively stationary gage opposite eachspring the 'front gages being undercut to hold down the end of the sheet"after itleaves the feed rolls.' M

20. In a slitting machine, upper and lower staggered cutters, a pair offeed rolls,- a guide table, spring pressed lateral gages in rear and infront .of said-rolls, and arelat-ively' stationary gage oppositeeachspring pressed gage, and a follower for feeding the sheet beyond thefeed rolls.-

21; In a slitting machine, a pair of a guide table having the groovedfeed rolls, and a portion guided in sa 22. In a. slitting or passage.

90-, 95' lateral ga at one i e I00 1-25 grooved feed rolls,upperandlower cutters,

a passage in line w th a follower having D a Pa il 1 grooved feed rolls,a guide table having a passage in line with the grooved feed rolls, anda follower having a "ortion guided in said-passa e 5 and sideflEingesadapted to be fed by rolls.

23. In a slitting machine, a pair of grooved feed rolls, upper and lowercutters, and a follower. having a body and side flanges, the bodyextending beyond the side flanges and having a transverse sheetreceiving-slot.

24'. 'In a slitting machine, upper and lower staggered cutters, feedrolls, gages between the rolls and, cutters, and means for engaging anunslitted portion of a sheet to feed, it beyond the rolls and betweenthe gages.

25. In a slitting machine, upper and lower cutters, feed rolls, gagesbetween the rolls and cutters, one of the gages being movable and afollower adapted to feed a sheet beyond the r Verse groove to receivethe sheet but to permit the sheet to be held under lateral pres sure bythe movable gage.

26. 'In 'a slitting machine, upper and lower cutters, feed rolls,lateral gages between the rolls and cutters having undercut portion tohold down the side edges of a sheet, and a follower having a groovedfront end to engage the central portion of the'end of a sheet and feedit beyond the rolls.

27. In a slittingmachine, a pair of sheet feeding rolls, upper and lowersets ofcutters for forming double rows of slits 1n relatively staggeredrelation across the sheet,

' andmeans for engaging an unslitted portion of the sheet and furtherfeeding the sheet after it has passed through the feed rolls.

. 28. In a slitting machine, a pair of feed rolls, upper and lower setsof transverse cutters arranged to out relatively staggered slits, and afollower engaged by the feed rolls for feeding the stock beyond therolls.

29. In a slitting machine, a pair of feed rolls with circumferentialgrooves, cutters for forming staggered rows of slits and a followercomprising a body with side flanges.

30. In a slitting machine, a pair of feed rolls with circumferentialgrooves, cutters for forming staggered rows of slits, and a followercomprising a b6dy with hinged side 55 flanges.

31.. In a slitting machine, a pair of feed rolls with circumferentialgrooves, cutters for forming staggered rows of slits, and. a

follower comprising a body with side flan es feed and a stop forengaging the rolls.

32. Slitting mechanism comprising punch and die members each having twotransverse cutting edges one of said members being formed in two partsadapted to reupper and lower cutters, i

of said two part member,

olls and having a trans-' .hold the stock against the -36.Slittingfmechanism comprising two ceive. the other member between theparts, the cutting edges of one member being interrupted at intervals,the interrupt-ions of \one edge being pposite the cutting portions 0fthe other ed Y 33. Slitting mechanism comprising punch and die memberseach having-two transverse cutting edges one of said members beingformed in two parts adapted to receive the other member between theparts, a mechanically operated gripper between the parts the cuttingedges of one member being interrupted at intervals, the interruptions ofone edge being opposite the cutting portions of the other edge.

1 34. Slitting mechanism comprising two sets of cooperating cutters, oneset being stationary and the other set movable relative thereto, thecutters of one set being-spaced apart just sufiicient to receive theother set, the front and rear edges coacting with the inner edges of thefirst set and feed rolls arranged substantially paral lel to the cuttingedges for feeding stock transversely to the cutting edges,

35. Slitting mechanism comprising two sets of cooperating cutters,,thecutters of one set being spaced apart just sufiicient to receive t eother set, the front and rear edges of said second set coacting with theinner edges of the first set and a gripper arranged to operate betweenthe spaced cutters and sets of coiiperating cutters, one set beingstationary and the other set movable relative thereto, the cutters ofone set being spaced apart just'suificient to receive the other set,

the front and rear'edges of said second set coacting with the inneredges of the first set and strippers arranged adjacent the edges of thesecond set of cutters.

37. slitting mechanism comprising two sets of cooperating cutters, oneset being stationary and-the other set thereto, the cutters of one. setbeing spaced apart just sufiicient to receive the other set, the frontand rear edges of said second set coacting with the inner edges of thefirst set, a gripper between said spaced cutters and strippers adjacentthe outer edges of the other cutters.

38. In a slitting mechanism two independently mounted holders and a rowof cutters carried by each holder independently of the .other holder,the cutters of one holder being staggered relative to the others andspaced apart therefrom.

39. In a slitting machine, a support, two holders independentlyconnected thereto, a row of cutters carried by each holder and atransverse gripping bar movable between said rows of cutters.

40. In a slitting machine,

of said second set.

a lower set of I opposite cutters.

movable relative Correction Letters Patent Not 1,0 3.7 ,204.

. gate for moving said gripping bar.

41. In a slitting machine, a set of cutters arranged in two rows spacedapart from each other, another set of cutters arranged 1 to fit betweenthe rows of the first set of spring pressed stripper plates spring;

[SEAL] Signed and sealed this 24th day of September, A. D., 1912.

cutters, holding and stopping devices for preventing the stock fromsticking to either I of said sets of cutters and means for feeding thesheet of stock transversely to said rows of cutters.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK.

Witnessesi EDUARD E. AsPINALL, FRANK H. GAINER.

' It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,037 ,20 1, grantedSepternber 3, 1912, upon nthe application of Norris Elmore Clark-ofPlainvilleIOonnecticut, for an improvemeht in slitting-Machines, anerror appears in the printed specification requiring correction asfollovvs: Pagefi', line72, strike out the words enters, I and insert thewords cutters, a 'guz'de table and' a and that the said Letters Patent,should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of thejease in the Patent Qflice.

c. o. sinuses,

Acting Commissioner of 'fatent s;

Correction Letters Patent Not 1,0 3.7 ,204.

. gate for moving said gripping bar.

41. In a slitting machine, a set of cutters arranged in two rows spacedapart from each other, another set of cutters arranged 1 to fit betweenthe rows of the first set of spring pressed stripper plates spring;

[SEAL] Signed and sealed this 24th day of September, A. D., 1912.

cutters, holding and stopping devices for preventing the stock fromsticking to either I of said sets of cutters and means for feeding thesheet of stock transversely to said rows of cutters.

NORRIS ELMORE CLARK.

Witnessesi EDUARD E. AsPINALL, FRANK H. GAINER.

' It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,037 ,20 1, grantedSepternber 3, 1912, upon nthe application of Norris Elmore Clark-ofPlainvilleIOonnecticut, for an improvemeht in slitting-Machines, anerror appears in the printed specification requiring correction asfollovvs: Pagefi', line72, strike out the words enters, I and insert thewords cutters, a 'guz'de table and' a and that the said Letters Patent,should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of thejease in the Patent Qflice.

c. o. sinuses,

Acting Commissioner of 'fatent s;

